A man battling cancer has said that a visit from Forest player and club ambassador John McGovern was a day he will 'never forget'.

Dale Belton, 63, of Chilwell has been battling cancer since 2011. He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer which spread to his liver and more recently it has spread to his lungs.

His son, Peter Belton, 34, of Toton decided to try and organise a special surprise to "raise his spirits".

Peter said: "My dad has been battling cancer on and off since 2011 but now and he has stopped having chemotherapy. Over Christmas and at the start of this year he has been in and out of hospital and sometimes he is in a lot of pain so I decided to try and organise something to raise his spirits.

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"I got in touch with Forest as my dad is a big fan and a season ticket holder and they got back to me saying they had a signed shirt ready and John McGovern would be able to give him a visit, I was in shock.

"We organised it as a surprise, John knocked on my dad's door and my mum made him answer. He loved it, he is completely buzzing. They just sat and chatted for two hours and I am so happy that the club could do that for him."

Dale Belton and John McGovern

On Wednesday February 7, former Reds captain John McGovern, who played for Forest from 1975 to 1984, knocked on Dale's door in Bramcote Avenue and surprised him with his own signed Forest shirt.

Speaking after the visit, Dale tweeted: "What a special day for me, to find John McGovern at my front door. A massive thank you to my son and John for making this happen, it will be a day I will never forget. COYR...!"

John McGovern, 68, a double European cup winner at Forest also played for Derby County, Leeds United and Bolton Wanderers.